This page contains news items, links to interesting sites, and anything else the market managers have wanted to share with you. They are listed in reverse chronological order, with the newest entries at the top.

In The News

FEATUREDPRODUCER: BLUMENBERRYFARMS

Mitch Blumenthal acquired a ten-acre organic blueberry farm in 1995. As he tended to his Sarasota crop, he began to explore heirloom row crops, blackberries, and other unusual items. Soon, the ten acres of blueberries had evolved into ten acres of diverse, beautiful crops.

This week we have heirloom carrots and spring onions with tops available from Bluemenberry Farms. You can order them here!

GOOD-BYELEORE!

We will miss you!

Our assistant operations manager Leore is leaving us to start a new chapter in her life. We’re going to miss her playing Otis Redding and that big smile! We wish you the best!

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In The News

Feautured Producer: Grower Jim

Hello! My name is Jim Ford, and I am a long-time producer of fresh, naturally-grown fruit, potted herbs, vegetable plants and edible landscape plants. Everything I sell is locally grown in Apopka, where I have been cultivating the same plot of land for 25 years.

I define naturally-grown as being grown without any artificial or manufactured products (Beyond Organic). “Certified Organic” growers are allowed to use bacteria, toxic alkaloids, and other man-made compounds on their crops as long as they are derived from plant or animal sources. I do not use these products. If a plant can’t be grown without the use of chemicals, I don’t grow it. For weed control I rely on labor-intensive hand pulling, mulch suppression and weed fabric/ground cloth.

My fruit grove is naturally watered only with rainfall, and the lack of irrigation concentrates and enhances the flavor of my fruit.

My fresh vegetables and herbs are all grown outdoors in the ground in natural sun, wind and rain. As a result, they may not always be picture-perfect, but the flavor and nutrition levels can’t be beat. Vegetable seedlings are grown in the same outdoor conditions, producing a sturdier transplant than commercial greenhouse-grown varieties that collapse when exposed to real-world conditions.

My potted plants are grown in a compost/soil blend made from materials composted on site, and watered with rainfall and ground water from a well. I don’t use any synthetic fertilizers, instead relying on the nutrients inherent in the compost/soil mix and bio-active pond water rich with fish waste and algae. All containerized plants are grown in 100% re-used post-consumer pots.

Beside Homegrown Co-op, you can buy my products direct from me at the following locations:
-Apopka Foliage & Fresh Market on the first and third Saturdays of the month (Oct-May) Both plants & some produce.
-Sanford Farm Swap meet on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. Mainly plants and some seasonal fruits.
-Orlando VA Clinic Farmers Market on the first and third Wednesdays of the month (produce only).

Check out my blog/website to learn more about many of the plants I grow: http://www.growerjim.blogspot.com/
I also invite you to “like” my business page on Facebook: www.facebook.com/GrowerJimsPlantsAndProduce

PRICEDROPS!

**These prices are available on the market now and will be available in-store starting Saturday

Red Potato

Was $2.11/lb — Now $1.55/lb — Save $0.56/lb

Eggplant

Was $5.06/lb — Now $2.19/lb — Save $2.87/lb

Green Pepper

Was $4.67/lb — Now $3.34/lb — Save $1.33/lb

Savoy Cabbage

Was $2.89/lb — Now $1.77/lb — Save $1.12/lb

Red Onion

Was $3.33/lb — Now $2.90/lb — Save $0.43/lb

Rainbow Chard

Was $3.26/lb — Now $2.50/lb — Save $076/lb

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In The News

Featured Producer: Indian River Garden Company

Indian River Garden Company believe in safe, non-toxic environments along with nourishing the body inside and out. We practice traditional methods of preparation for our fermented and cultured products. We realize many humans are gluten intolerant and would like gluten-free ORGANIC options.

We make every attempt to assure there is no GMO is anything we produce. We make every attempt to either grow our own organic ingredients or to source only organic with preference given to local sources where possible.
Our goal is provide a line of organic:
Gluten-free Foods and Deserts
Fermented Vegetables & Condiments
Kombucha, Plain and Flavored
Sodas (prepared in the traditional methods)
Hemp/Wool Pet Toys and Bedding
Health Products: Soap, Cream, Toothpaste, and Healing Balm
We are also a retailer for Fermented Cod Liver Oil

Upcoming Events

In The News

Featured Distributor: Global Organic Specialty Source

Mitch Blumenthal, founder and owner of Global Organic Specialty Source, began as an organic farmer in Sarasota, Florida. As Mitch sought out other organic fruits and vegetables for his family beyond what he was cultivating on his Blumenberry Farm, he realized that an opportunity existed for an organic-supply company.

Initially working out of an old mobile home at the farm, Mitch soon converted his barn into a banana and tomato room. Shortly thereafter, a 53’ refrigerated trailer was added for storing other fruits and veggies. In no time, he was delivering produce to Miami twice a week, with a single truck.

Global Organics grows their produce and their company based on honesty, integrity and hard work Demand was so great for the quality organic produce Mitch supplied his customers, that he soon outgrew the space available at the farm. Moving into a small warehouse in historic downtown Sarasota , Mitch developed the key values that reflected his beliefs, and continue to drive Global Organic Specialty Source today:

Procure the highest-quality organic produce available, in order to make it as accessible to as many people as possible.

Work in support of small, sustainable farms and buy locally.

Grow the company based on honesty, integrity, and hard work.

In March 2002, Global Organic Specialty Source proudly opened the doors to its present home in Sarasota. This state-of-the-art facility features over half a million cubic feet of refrigerated storage in seven separate temperature-controlled zones. The coolers feature high-efficiency lighting and an environmentally-friendly chill-water system, so as to reduce our footprint upon the planet.

Our employees keep Global Organic Specialty Source running 24 hours a day and 365 days a year to bring you the best quality organic produce at a price you can afford.2007 saw the addition of a new room for Global Organic Specialty Source’s large overwrap program, and our new custom repack label, Noah’s Organic Garden.

Today, Global Organic Specialty Source supports over 160 farms in the US and twenty other countries—from all continents except Antarctica! We are proud to be the largest locally-owned supplier of Organic Produce in the region.

Over eighty people work together, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to make sure that you receive the best quality organic produce available—at the right price. We thank all of our current customers, growers and employees, and welcome those of you visiting our site. We look forward to starting a relationship with you!

In The News

Featured Producer: Orenda Herbal!

Orenda Herbal is a family owned company committed to honoring the spiritual essence within our human family, our plant allies, and the planet that supports us by providing lovingly handcrafted, herbalist formulated organic products for mind, body, and spirit.

We source from local and labor-friendly farms who cultivate herbs using practices which support the environment. We strictly avoid adding chemicals to our products which can harm our our bodies and our environment. We create our products in small batches by hand according to lunar and planetary cycles, to offer you the highest quality products with the purest energetic and biochemical qualities possible that support your health, the health of our community, and the health of the planet.

In The News

Featured Producer: Monterey Mushrooms

Monterey Mushrooms, Inc. was established in 1971 as a family- owned and operated farm in Royal Oaks, California. Today, Monterey is vertically integrated and able to control all aspects of mushroom production from seed to customer/consumer. An international, multi-facility company, with 10 mushroom growing farms strategically located throughout North America – Monterey’s mushrooms are literally “locally grown” nationwide. This means that Monterey is uniquely positioned to deliver the best, most innovative mushroom products possible to consumers throughout the country.

For us here in Central Florida, we are lucky to have one of Monterey Mushroom farms right in our backyard. Located in Zellwood, the Monterey Mushroom farm of Central Florida grows big beautiful portabellas and white button mushrooms. This facility used to be Certified Organic, but does not currently carry that label due to the loss of a big contract with Publix a few years back that made the $10,000 annual certification fees un-feasible for their business.

Upcoming Member Monday Special!

Check Sunday’s Weblog for next weeks Member Monday special.

Remember to have your member card ready at checkout!

Not a Member yet? Support your local food economy now by becoming a member

In The News

Featured Producer: Tangie Natural Products

The name TANGIE is inspired by my dad, Terry Tremblay. He believed in recycling and repurposing whenever possible and spent his entire working career doing just that all along encouraging me to do the same.

Most of my working life involved law and finance which did not always mesh with my core beliefs. The corporate giant is not very good at reusing or recycling anything, especially paper! In my world, we reuse every piece of paper, letting the worm composter have it last. We repurpose what we can, use travel mugs, cook many meals in the Sun Oven, drive a Prius, make our own laundry detergent and all the household cleaners we need.

In 2008, I had the opportunity to develop my line of homemade cleaning products into a real business. I had been using these ingredients and “recipes” for years with great success. The world is filled with toxic, petroleum based cleaners that harm us, so we took the chance to start Tangie and share what we know about cleaning better with less. We are very proud to say that this line is safe for everyone….people, pets and the environment!

Trademarking the name TANGIE came this year (2012) and I continue to develop additional products are free of petroloeum, phosphates, harsh chemicals and animal testing or animal by products.

TANGIE products will only contain only the best medical grade esssential oils, natural soaps, distilled vinegar and other biodegradable ingredients that are 100% effective!

Thank you for joining me in making a conscious choice today to save our planet.

gratefully,
Angie Ringler

Upcoming Member Monday Special!

Check Sunday’s Weblog for next weeks Member Monday special.

Remember to have your member card ready at checkout!

Not a Member yet? Support your local food economy now by becoming a member

In The News

Featured Producer: Escentual Harmony Soaps

Our name, Escentual Harmony, first came about when learning about the blending of fragrances, with each fragrance having a top, middle and base (bass) note, just as a musical chord. Finding the harmony in the fragrance is the key. As products were formulated, another type of harmony came into play- the harmony between science and nature.

The basis behind Escentual Harmony is to give our customers the best products possible and provide products that stay as close to nature as possible. All of our products are made in harmony with nature.

All of our products are made with care and we always use natural ingredients in our formulas unless use of a man-made ingredient makes a clearly better or safer product. Read our ingredient list then check the ingredients in products from the large commercial manufacturers. You’ll see the difference. Most importantly, you’ll feel the difference and have confidence that the products you are using on yourself and your family are not loaded with chemicals. All our products are paraben free and as natural as can be.

All of our soaps, lotions and butters use only the highest quality botanical oils. Plant oils are produced from seeds or fruits and are rich in fatty acids. These oils absorb easily and are kind to the skin. We incorporate only the highest quality essential oils and fragrance oils in our soaps and body products.

Science and nature in harmony – along with a symphony of fragrances.

Items available from Escentual Harmony Soaps can be found at the Farm Store!

Upcoming Member Monday Special!

Monday February 18th Member Monday Special:

Tomorrow members will receive 25% all Greens purchased in the Farm Store.

Including Kale, Chard, Lettuces and more!

Remember to have your member card ready at checkout!

Not a Member yet? Support your local food economy now by becoming a member

In The News

Featured Producer: Mrs. Jones’ Soapbox

My name is Jamie and I am the Chief Mixer & Crafter for Mrs. Jones’ Soapbox. Mrs. Jones’ Soapbox is a line of non-toxic, eco-friendly household cleaning products made from natural minerals and vegetable based soaps. I started working on this line in 2008 when I grew tired of big companies calling themselves green and natural just to make a buck. I think the only way to combat greenwashing is through education so I created Mrs. Jones’ Soapbox to help me teach people about what it really means to “go green.”

Cleaning products are some of the most toxic products we have in our homes. They are made with synthetic chemicals that are dangerous to our health, hurt plants and animals when we wash them down our drains and they create unnecessary hazardous waste. They came on the market about 60 years ago when chemists discovered we could create hundreds of different chemicals with petroleum oil. Petroleum was cheap, worked well in cleaning products and companies began marketing these products mainly to women as a way to make the job of cleaning faster and more efficient.

The good news is that it doesn’t have to be that way. There are plenty of natural, eco-friendly ingredients that clean just as well as their chemical counterparts. I spent a year developing my formulas because I wanted to come up with cleaning solutions that worked really well, were completely safe to use and also looked and smelled great. I tested every surface, every scenario, cleaned my friends’ houses and spent every waking moment tweaking and re-tweaking my formulas until I was confident in the final product.

What I came up with are five products that are multi-purpose so you can use them to clean your entire house from top to bottom, inside and out. No more lugging around tile cleaner, toilet cleaner, kitchen cleaner, surface spray, bathroom cleaner and all the other products that are jumbled together underneath your sink. Just 5 great products that can tackle anything. I carry mine around in a 6-pack holder, with a cup in the extra spot to carry my tools, like an old toothbrush and sponges, and it really makes the sometimes disgusting job of cleaning a little more bearable.

I package them in beautiful bottles that are designed to be reused or refilled once they’re empty so we can cut down on the waste we create and the liquid refills are packaged in recycled (sterilized) water bottles that I collect from friends. In fact, I collected so many bottles that I’ve filled up an entire room in my house! You can see a picture here.

So that’s a little bit about how Mrs. Jones’ Soapbox came to be. I hope you’ll give it a try. I think you’ll find it makes the chore of cleaning a little more fun and lot more healthy. Thanks for stopping by!

Items available from Mrs. Jones’ Soapbox:

Upcoming Member Monday Special!

Look out for next week’s Member Monday special in Sunday’s weblog.

Remember to have your member card ready at checkout!

Not a Member yet? Support your local food economy now by becoming a member